Safety razor



Feb. 19, 1946. J. T. HELLMANN 2,395,272

SAFETY RAZOR Filed Nov. 24, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Jay JU-[eZZmann AITU RN EYE Patented Feb. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

My invention relates to safety razors, and has of an improved razor structur wherein the blade holder is mounted for pivotal movement and is opened with a snap action to separate the blade and its holder from the guard, thereby providing an arrangement which facilitates drying of the blade as well as maintaining the blade holder and the guard in separated relationship to facilitate placement and removal of the blade.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a safety razor embodying my invention, with a portion broken away for the purpose of illustration.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the razor rotated 90 degrees in one direction about the axis of its handle.

' among its objects and advantages the provision Figure 3 is a similar view but with the razor rotated 90 degrees in the opposite direction.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the guard and stem structure.

Figure 5 is a view of the stem structure rotated 90 degrees in one direction.

Figure Sis a view of the guard and stem structure rotated 90 degrees in the opposite direction.

Figure 7 is a plain view of the guard.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the guard with a portion broken away at line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a vertical section of the razor structure in the position of Figure 1.

Figure 1G is a similar View illustrating the blade and its holder in open position.

Figure 1 1 is a View similar to Figure 10 but illustrating the razor structure rotated 90 degrees.

Figure 12- is a sectional view along th line iE-iZ of Figure 9.

Figure 13 is a cross section of the bladeholder illustrating the blade latch.

Figure 14 is an inside view of the blade holder.

Figure 15 is an edge view of the blade holder partly in section.

Figure 16 is an end'view of the blade holder.

Figure 17 is a side view of the connecting rod.

Figure 17a is a top view of the connecting rod.

Figure 18 is an end View of the connecting rod.

Figure 19 is a detailedview of an impeller member.

Figur 20 is a side view of the tubular sleeve.

Figure 21 is a view of the rod, as in Figure 19.

Figure 22 is an elevational view of the latch carrying member.

Figure 23 is a view of the latch carrying member rotated 90 degrees.

Figure 24 is an edge view of the latch.

Figure 25 is a sectional view along the line' 25-45 of Figure. 22.

Figure 26 is an elevation of the sleeve handle. Figure 27 is a face view of a toggle latch.

Figure 28 is a view of the opposite side of the toggle latch. n V V In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, I mak use of a guard 30 haw-- ing the usual notched edges 32 and curved cross section.

One end of the uard 3G is provided with a square opening I88 having beveled edges flaring toward the convex side 139 of the guard. The other end of the guard is provided with a slot 54- whichprovides accommodation space for a pivoted finger 64-. An inturned lip 50 is provided at this end of the guard. The inturned lip '50 has an opening 5! toslidably receive the flanged end. of the connectingv rod 18. Leading into the opening 51 is a slot 54 of the guard 30. The bevelled ledges 53 are located on the side of the slot 54 at the concave side of the guard, Figure. 6. The notches B2. are located at either side of theinverted lip 53. A cut away section 52 and a groove I86 are provided in the upper part of the inturned lip 53. The groove 186: extends crosswise of the inturned lip and has its opening on the inside of the inverted lip. An open space I8 1 is provided toadmit bar of the blade holder v5E5.

Fixedly attached to the guard 30, Figure 4, is a tubular stem 34 having a bore 35, which bore extends longitudinally of the stem the entire length thereof. The diameter of the bore 35- is reduced' at a point just short of the guard 30 which forms a shoulder 31 located inside the tubular stemwhich provides a stop means for the latch carrying member 89. The diameter of the bore" 35 from the unattached end of the tubular stem. to the shoulder 31 of proper dimension to slidably receive the latch carrying member 80. On one side of the tubular stem is provided a slot. 36 extending the full length of the tubular stem and communicating with the bore 35. The width of the slot 36 is of proper dimension to slidably receive a lug I04 anda pressur block H0. formed: on the member 94 and the flanged end ISO-I86 of the latch 13,.Figure 10.- Onthe opposite side of the tubular stem 34 is provided aslot 38 extending; through its unattached end and part way the length of the tubular stem. The tubular member 34 is cut away to formopenings 40 and 42 communicating with the slot 38, Figure 5, and these communicate with the bore 35. The slot 38 at its narrow end is of proper width to slidably receive link I44 and screw I48 of the toggle latch member l22and the abutment block I50 of the tubular body 82 of the latch carrying member Figure 22. Two lugs 44 are located on the edges of the tubular stem walls and are positioned between the cut away sections 40 and 42. The tubular stem-34 is provided with a short closed ended slot I24 cut through that end thereof next to the guard 30. The open ends the lugJZ to provide a bar16. -56-is provided with a'headed pin 68, Figure 13.

of slot I24 of the tubular stem and the open end .of slot I66 of the guard 36 communicate at the junction of the tubular stem 34 and the guard 36 forming an accommodation space for the latch 18 of the latch carrying member 86, when the latch 16 is moved in a clockwise direction." The closed end of the slot I24 is bevelled from within the bore 35 of the tubular stem 34 forming a camrning edge I26, Figure 9. Two notches 46 are provided in the tubular stem and are located at the end of cut away section 42, Figures 4 and- 5. Threads 49 are provided inside the unattached end of the tubular stem to receive a screw plug A blad holder 56, Figures 13, 14, and 16, coacts with the guard 36 to clamp the razor blade 58 therebetween. This blade holderis provided with two lugs 59 at one end to support the bar 66. The bar 66 is provided with a finger 64 located in'th'e midsection of the bar and extending diagonally therefrom. On the opposite side of bar 66 is provided a camming lug I94 which is in longitudinal alignment with the finger 64.

"blade holder 56 is pivoted from its clamped position as shown in Figure 9, to the open position of Figure 10, lug I64 cams against'lower inside.

wall of the inverted lip 56, as at 51, Figure 8, forcing the bar 66 upwardly until-bar '66 is nested in the groove I86 of the inverted lip as in Figure 10. Attached tothe central part of the blade holder is a latch lug 12 which has a slot 14 tere minating at a point near the unattached end of The blade holder The lugs 59 of the bladeholder 56 are properly spaced to loosely accommodate therebetween the narrow end 66 of the razor blade 58. The head or pin 68-is of proper dimension to admit, under pressure, the slot 16 of the razor blade-58 and hold the razor blade in connected relationship with the bladeholder 56. The razorblade '58 may be removed 'from' the blade holder 56, Figure -11,"'by-resting the thumb on the headed pin 68 and the-indexfinger on the narrow end 660i the blade-58 and applyinglight. pull pressure against the end 66 of the razor blade The space between the outer end of the inturned lip 56 vand the conc'ave side of the blade holder 56 is of proper distance to place the razor blade 58. under slight stress which enables utilization of the inherent spring-action of the metal of therazor:

blade to effect pivotaloperation of the blade holder 56 from theposition'of Figure 9 ,to the position ofFig.10.

Meansforretaining.theblade holder 56 in the clamping .position' of Figure 9 are provided through: the medium ,ofia latch carrying member 86, Figures 22 and 23.

:The latch carrying member-.86 comprises a tubularbody 62 having at one end lugs 84 between which a latch 16 is positioned and pivotally mounted by means of apin-66. [The latch 16 is provided at one end with a hopk '16-to engage the bar 160i the latch lug 12 andonithe opposite side from the hook 19 is a lobeBl which provides delaying means for the latch 13. The other end oflatch I6 is provided with two flanges I66 connected in their midsections by a bar I18 and a channel I16 is located between the flanges I66. The latch 1'8 has a round opening in its center to receive the pin 86. The tubular body 82 has an eccentrically located and longitudinally extending bore 86, which bore terminates in the tubularbody 62' at a point just short of the end wherein are located the lugs ,84. The diameter of the bore 88 is of proper dimension to slidably re ceive' therein the cylindrical bod 96 and the tubular sleeve I66 of the member 64. 0ne side of the tubular body 62 is provided with a flat faced surface 66 extending the greater length of the tubular body, and an abutment block I56 is located on' the same side of the tubular body at'the end of theflatfaced surface 66, Figure'22. The opposite side of tubular body 82 is provided with a slot 92 extending the entire length of the tubular body and communicating with the bore 88 thereof. The 7 width of slot .92 is of proper dimension to slidably receive therein the lug I 64 and the pressure block I I6 of the member'94, FigurelQ, and the flanged end I66 of the latch 18 of the latch carrying member 86, Figure 24;

Means for operatively connecting the blade holder 56 with the latch carrying member 86 are provided which include the employment of a connecting rod I63, Figures 17 and 18. One end of the connecting rod I68 is provided with a hook I12, and other end oftherod is provided with two flanges I14, connected at their outer edges by a bar-H6. The upper parts of flange I14 have rounded edges II5while the lower portions have notched edges as at I15. Between the flangesllt is an opening I I4 which is of proper dimensions to slidably receive endwi'se therein the finger 64 of the blade holder 56, The connecting rod I68 is arranged in connectedrelationship with the blade holder 56 andthe latch carrying member'66 by placing bar II6'of the rod I68 slidably over the end of the finger 64 of the blade holder 56, and

entering the hook end H2 in to the channel I16 to has a cylindrical body 66 having fixedly attached thereto and extending longitudinally therefrom a pressure block II6, which pressure block is'of proper dimension to be slidably receivable in the slot 92 of the tubular body 82 and the slot 36 of the tubular stem 34. A'tubular sleeve is provided with a concentrically located and longitudinally extending bore I65. The bore I65is of proper diameter to slidably receive therein a rod 96. The

tubular sleeve I66 is provided with a slot I66, cut

into one side thereof and, extending a partway the length of the tubular sleeve to a point adjacent the closed end, and communicating with the the bore I65. A rod 66 has a lug I64 fixedly attached to its side, which lug extends laterally therefrom. The other end of rod is threaded into the cylindrical body 96. A compression spring I62 is mounted on the rod 98 abutting the cylindrical body 96 and the tubular sleeve I66. 'When parts of member 94 are assembled as a unit, Figure 19, the lug I64 is slidably accommodated in the slot I66 of the tubular sleeve, and abuts the closed end of the slot I66 of the tubular sleeve I66 to hold the parts in unit formation for convenient handling. When the razor is assembledas in Figures 9 and 16, the entranceof the lug I64v into slot92 of the tubular body 82 andislot 36ofthe tubular stem 84 provides means of locking the rod 98 in its screwed position in the cylindrical body 96.

A screw plug I22 has a center bore I83 which provides means of drainage. The screw plug I82 is threaded into the end of tubular stem 34 as at 43, Figure 5, and engages the end of tubular sleeve H34 of the member 94, which places the spring I02 under compression as in Figure 10, with additional compression when razor is in position of Figure 9.

The toggle latch, Figures 10, 27 and 28, comprises bars I28 and Ii -u pivotally connected by a pin I32. The bar I28 has two ledges I4I extending longitudinally therefrom to support the lip I36 of the cam I34. The cam I34 is pivotally mounted on the pin i132 for engagement with the flat faced surface iii of the tubular body 82 to pivot the toggle latch I22 from'its position of Figure 9 to that of Figure 10. The lip I35 is attached to the cam :24 and provides means for prying the cam I24 into camming engagement with the fiat faced surface 9%! of the tubular body 82. When the toggle latch is in position of Figure 10, the lip I35 contacts the ledges I il of the bar I28 and gives the toggle latch the benefit of greater leverage pressure while forcing the toggle latch into its position as in Figure 9. The bar I28 is slotted at I38 for the reception of one end of the bar I30, and one end of the latter bar is slotted at 544 for reception of the cam I34. A pin I42 pivotally connects the bar 539 with the link I44. 28, to slidingiy engage the edges 4! of the tubular stem The link I44 slidably nests in slot 33 of the tubular stem 34 and is held in that position by means of sleeve handle I44 which slips over the stem 54. A screw I48, having a square head, is threaded into the free end of the link M4. The screw head of the screw I48 abuts block I59 of the tubular body 82 of the latch. carrying member 82. The screw I48 provides adjustment means for gauging longitudinal movement of the latch carrying member 82 which governs the amount of clamp pressure applied to the blade holder 56. Since the screw I48 has a square head and is closely but slidably accommodated I28 with a head E54 and lies against the tubular stem 34. The head I54 has two flanges I56 shaped as continuations of the head I54. The lugs I58 are for engagement with the notches 48 of the tubular stem 34 to effectively hold the head I54 in the position of Figures 9 and 10.

The sleeve handle I46, Figure 26, slips partly over the flanges I55 to hold the head I54 to the edges 43 of the tubular stem 34, as at 42, Figure 5. The sleeve handle I46, in position of Figures 9 and 10, provides an outer closing housing for the slot 33 of the tubular stem 34 to provide space accommodation for the link I44 and the screw I43 of the toggle latch member I22 and also to provide similar space for the abutment block I50 of the tubular body 82 of the tubular latch member 80. A slot It!) in the sleeve handle I46 provides accommodation space for the toggle latch I22. The sleeve handle I46 ha lipped edges I62 to engage edges I44 of the head I54 to hold the head I54 in its nested position in the opening 42 of the slot 38 of the tubular stem 34.

With the toggle latch I22 in position of Figure 9, the pin I32 lies to the right of a straight line passing through the pin I42 and I52; which arrangement holds the toggle latch !22 against The link E44 has flanges I45, Figure the fiat faced surface 90 of the tubular body 82.

A cap nut I65 has an opening I61 and is threaded on the sleeve handle I45 to enclose the screw plug I82. The opening I6! is for drainage purposes. The screw plug I82 has engagement with the end of sleeve handle MB to hold the sleeve handle in assembled relationship with the tubular stem 34. The cap nut I86 provides a locking arrangement for the screw plug I82 to prevent the latter from becoming disengaged from the tubular stem 34 when razor is in operative use.

The razor as in Figures 9 and 10 may be easily and quickly dismounted and all parts removed without use of tools by simply removing the cap nut I66 and the screw plug I82.

The razor blade 58 is attached to the blade holder 56 when razor is in the open position of Figure 10.

The blade holder 56 is pivoted from the open position of Figure 10 to the closed position of Figure 9 by manual energy, in the following manner: The thumb is rested on lip 36 of the cam I34 of the toggle latch I22, when in position of Figure 10, and pressure is applied thereto in the direction of the flat faced surface so of the tubular body c2 of the latch carrying member 8! which extends the toggle latch I 22, directin pressure through screw I43 of the link 144 against abutment block I59 of the tubular body 82 to drive the latch carrying member 84 in a direction away from the guard 3e. Member 94 is slidably housed within the bore 88 of the tubular body 82 of the member 80, and is carried with the latch carrying member in its movement in the direction away from the guard 30. The member 84 is held in its connected relationship with the latch carrying member 88, and in the bore 83 of the tubular body 82 by pressure from the spring I42.

As soon as latch carrying member 8% commences movement in a direction away from the guard 34, the lip I36 of the toggle latch is forced in the direction of the flat faced surface Q4 of the tubular body 82, and the back side of the hook iii of the latch 19 contacts and cammingly engages v the edge I25 of the slot I24 of the tubular stem 34, forcing the latch E8 in a counterclockwise direction, drawing the flanged end E84 of the latch I8 toward the tubular body 82 and directing pull pressure on the connecting rod 63 to draw the rod I08 in an endwise movement toward the tubular body 82. This pull pressure is transmitted to the blade holder 56 through contact of the bar I I5 of the rod I68 against upper edge of the finger 54, of the bar 6t, of the blade holder 54 thereby, pulling the finger 64 toward the tubular body 82 with sufiicient force to pull the blade holder 56 from its open position of Figure 10 to its closed position of Figure 9. Upon the blade holder 56 reaching closed position of Figure 9, the latch I8 is drawn farther inside the tubular stem 34 causing the hook I9 to engage the bar at of the latch lug I2 to clamp the blade holder 5c in the position of Figure 9.

The blade holder 58 is disengaged from the clamped position of Figure 9 and pivoted to the open position of Figure 10 by means of compression spring energy, applied when the toggle latch I22 is released from its extended position as in Figure 9. When the toggle latch $22 is thus released the latch carrying member Si!- is driven in the direction of the guard 34 by member $4 through pressure block IIil of the member 94. When latch carrying member 84 has moved a short distance in the direction of the guard 30,

Y the hook end of the latch I3 is in slot I24 of the tubular stem 34, permitting the latch lttocommence a clockwise'movement, which disengages the hook E9 of the latch 18 from the bar 'lfiof the latch lug '52. When the hook "l9 disengages the bar "it of the latch lug i2, the latch carryingmemher Sii comes to a stop andthe shoulders 81 of the tubular body 82 of the latch carrying member 83 abut Shoulder 31in the bore 35 ,ofthe tubular stem 34. With the latch carrying member thus stopped in its movement in the direction ofqig the guard 3i), by continued clockwise movement of the latch it, the member 94 continuesv to drive the pressure block i it in the directionof the guard 38, the flanges E85 of the latch F8 are driven against the guard 39, and the connecting rod I68 through the engagement'of the bar I 58 of the latch lug l3 and the hook H2 of the rod M38, is driven to its full extended'position as in Figure 10. In the endwise movement of the connecting rod IE8 from its position in Figure 9 to that of Figure'q 10, the opening lid of the rod 108 closes endwisely over the finger 5 3 of the blade holder 55 and the notched edges I '15 of the flanges I14 of the rod 68 camrningly enter the space over the bar 65 of the blade holder 56, forcing the flanged;;; end of the bar IE8 to an elevated position with relation to the bar (iii, and diverting pressure to the lower edge of finger 64, thereby forcing the finger 6 upward with suflicient force to impel the blade holder 55 from closed position of Fig-. ure 9 to open position of Figure 10.

The blade holder 56 is held in the position of Figure l0 by the upper side of finger 54 which abuts the inside edge of the bar N6 of the connecting rod Hi8, while the other side of the flngerzi3 abuts end ll! of the rod Hi8, and the notches N5 of the flanges FM; thereby pressingly engaging the edge of the bar 6!? of the blade holder 56.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention, that othersmay, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. A safety razor guard having (1) a square opening at one end, said square opening having its edges bevelled, (2) a'flrst slot extending longitudinally of the guard in a direction of, and intersecting the edge of,'a round opening located in the center of the guard, (3) two notches with an inturned lip therebetween at the other end of the guard, (4) a groove within the inturned lip, said groove opening inwardly of the inturned lip and extending crosswise therein, a (5) an oblong section removed from central upper side of the inturned lip, (6) a square opening in the lower central side of the inturned lip,

'(7) a second slot in the guard extending longitudinally of the guard in a direction of, and intersecting the edge of, the square opening in the lower side of the inverted lip, (8) two bevelled 0 ledges in the concave side of the guard, extending longitudinally of the guard, and positioned one at either side of the second slotof the guard, (9) and an opening between the end of the inturned lip and the end of the guard, said open- 5 ing extending crosswise of the guard. 2. A safety razor tubular stem having (1) a first slot through one end of the tubular stem wall, extending longitudinally of the tubular stem a short distance to a closed end, said closed end being bevelled from within the tubular stem, a second slot on same side of tubular stem, through the other end thereof, extending longitudinally of the tubular stem, said second slot being enlarged at midsection of the tubular stem, '75

:said enlarged section -,of the second slot having a closed end in the tubular stem wall, (3) two lugs in the edges of the tubular stem wall located in the enlarged section of the second slot, (4') two notches in the tubular stem wall located at-the end of the enlarged section of the second slotv of the tubular stem, (5) a third longitudinally extending slot located in opposite side of the tubularstem and extending the entirelength of the tubular stem, (6) a shoulder inside the tubular stem, ('7) and threads inside one end of the tubular stem.

3. A safety razor blade holder'having (1) a headed pin attached to concave side of the blade holder and located at one end of the blade holder, (2) a latch lug having one end attached to central section, concave side, of the blade holder, said latch lug having a slot therethrough, and a cross bar located in the unattached end of the latch lug, (3) two lugs attached to blade holder, located at other end of blade holder, for support of a bar which is suspended between these two lugs, said bar having fixedly attached to one of its sides, centrally located of the bar, a finger extending diagonally of the bar, and said bar having fixedly attached to its opposite side, centrally located of the bar, a camming lug, said camming lug extending diagonally of the bar and arranged to be in parallel alignment with the finger.

L 4. A safety razor latch carrying member comprising (l) a tubular body having a concentrically located and longitudinally extending bore extending the greater length of the tubular body, (2) a flat faced surface and an abutment block on one side of the tubular body, (3) a slot on other side of the tubular body extending longitudinally therewith and entire length of the tin bular body, said slot intersecting the bore of the tubular body, (4) two lugs at end of tubular body extending longitudinally therefrom, said lugs being for support of a latch which is pivotally mounted between the said two lugs through means of a pin, said latch having at one end a hook, on the back side of which is a lobe, hi the center a round hole, and at the other end two round flanges connected at their mid-sections by a bar.

5. A safety razor connecting rod having (1) a hook at one end, (2) two flanges at other end, said flanges having round upper edges and connected in their upper end sections by a bar, (3) an opening in the flanged end of the connecting rod lying between the flanges and between the bar that connects the said flanges and the end of the connecting rod between the said flanges.

6. [A safety razor impeller member comprising (l) a cylindrical body having fixedly attached thereto and longitudinally extending therefrom, a pressure block, a cylindrical body having at other end a center bore which is threaded, (2) a rod having a lug fixedly attached to one side of the rod, said lug located near one end of the rod and extending therefron and other end of rod threaded into the bore of the cylindrical body, (3) and a tubular sieeve having a center bore extending the entire length of the tubular sleeve, said tubular sleeve having a slot, intersecting the bore, and extending a part way the length of the tubular sleeve.

7. A safety razor toggle latch member comprising, (1) a head having two circumferentially arranged and longitudinally extending lugs at one end of the head, two shoulders at either side of head, two longitudinally extending flanges at other end of head, and a slot in the head between the flanges, said slot being crosswisely intersected by a pin through the head, (2) a first bar having a round hole in one end to receive said pin and two flanges at other end of the first bar, said flanges having round holes in their center sections to receive a pin, said flanges of the first bar having longitudinally extending ledges, (3) a second bar having a hole in one end to receive a second pin and two flanges at other end of the second bar, these flanges having round hole in their mid sections to receive a third pin, (4) a camming latch having an ovalled shaped disk with a, round hole flatwise through upper side of said disk to receive said second pin, said disk having at its upper edge and fixedly attached to the disk, a lip extending longitudinally therefrom, said lip havin drop ledges at either side thereof, (5) a sliding link having at one end two flanges with a slot therebetween, said slot being crosswisely intersected by a round hole to receive said third pin, and opposite end of sliding link has an adjustment screw threaded thereinto.

8. A safety razor holder, comprising a guard, a blade holder mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the guard to engage or release a blade thereon, a, tubular member engaging the guard, a latch carrying member in the tubular member, said blade holder having a keeper extending through the blade and guard and engaged by the latch in the latch carrying member, means for moving the blade holder to an open position when the latch i released, and a, toggle means for releasing the latch carrying member.

9. A safety razor holder, comprising a slotted guard, a blade holder mounted for pivotal move- ,ment with respect to the guard to engage or release a blade thereon, a tubular member engaging the guard, a latch carrying, member in the tubular member, said blade holder having a keeper extending through the blade and guard and engaged by the latch on the latch carrying member, spring means for moving the blade holder to an open position when the latch is released, toggle means for releasing the latch carrying member, and said latch carrying member having a tubular part, and a spring pressed member in said tubular part having a block actuating the latch carrying member.

10. A safet razor holder, comprising a slotted guard, a blade holder mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the guard to engage or release a blade thereon, a tubular member engaging the guard, a latch carrying member in the tubular member, said blade holder having a link connection at its pivoted end with the latch carrying member and provided with a keeper extending through the blade and guard to be engaged by the latch on the latch carrying member, spring means for moving the blade holder to an open position when the latch is released, toggle means for releasing the latch carrying means, said latch carrying member having a tubular part, and a spring pressed means in the tubular part of the latch carrying member for actuating the latch carrying member.

JAY T. HELLMANN. 

